S: I've got to write a report. Is that what you mean by a research report?

L: Well, a research report is only one type of report. Research reports tend to be written in your final year of study, so they're often long reports of big projects that you do.

S: Oh, I see. So it's like a dissertation then.

L: Yes, a dissertation is a good example of a research report. Research reports normally include an introduction, a literature review, methodology, results and discussion of your findings and how what you've found relates to the literature in your field.

S: So it's a bit like writing something for publication in a journal or something.

L: Yes, sometimes a research report is exactly like a journal article.

S: Mm, OK. Thank you.